Carton filler

ABSTRACT

A filler for use with a carton filling machine having an improved no carton-no fill mechanism arranged such that the capacity of the volumetric filling mechanism thereof can be changed without making a number of additional adjustments. Also, the hopper and the cup support for the filler is adapted to be vibrated, to provide improved carton fill.

United States Patent (4 as 4o 30 I211 [56] References Cited UNlTEDSTATES PATENTS 2,320,581 6/1943 First et a1 141/142X 2,815,046 12/1957McBean et a1 141/142 Primary Examiner-Robert M. Walker Attorney-Dominik,Knechtel and Godula ABSTRACT: A filler for use with a carton fillingmachine having an improved no carton-no fill mechanism arranged suchthat the capacity of the volumetric filling mechanism thereof can bechanged without making a number of additional adjustmerits. Also, thehopper and the cup support for the filler is adapted to be vibrated, toprovide improved carton fill.

PATENTED m1 1 19m SHEET 3 UF 5' lNVh'NTOR.

J Robert Gal/away PATENIEU m1 1 m sum BF 5 J Robert Galloway PATENTEDMAH1 I971 Q 3578.040

SHEET 5 BF 5 FIG. 9

lllllll-llllll-l Ill-[Ill mull-"Ill" L\- FIG. 12

INVEN TOR J Robert Galloway 02M, Ma M CARTON FILLER This inventionrelates, generally, to improved carton filling machines and, moreparticularly, to an improved filler for carton filling machines.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved filler for cartonfilling machines including means for maintaining the net weight contentsof the filled cartons within closer limits than heretofore generallypossible. Another object is to provide an improved filler for cartonfilling machines constructed in a fashion such that it can be moreeasily and more quickly adjusted to vary the volume of the volumetricfilling mechanism thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved filler for carton fillingmachines capable of continuous operation at high speeds, and constructedin a fashion such that it can be operated with a minimum of maintenance.

A further object is to provide an improved filler having a no carton-nofill mechanism which is operative to prevent the product from beingdeposited in the volumetric filling mechanism, in the absence of acarton or cartons.

Still another object is to provide an improved filler for carton fillingmachines having a construction such that the product is caused to drop agreater distance into the cartons, so that the latter are filled andpacked more compactly without the need of additional packing mechanisms.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constmction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a filler exemplary of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the filler of FIG. 1, taken substantiallytransversely through it;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the filler of FIG. 1, partiallybroken away so that the construction and operation of the no carton-nofill arm thereof can be more easily shown and described, the same beingoperated to open each of the cutoff gates of the filler;

FIG, 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, however, illustrating the nocarton-no fill am in its operative position for closing the cutoff gatesof the filler;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the top cup and cutoff plate carrier of thefiller;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the lower cup support plate of the filler;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view, taken substantially along lines10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial side plan view of the lower cup support plate ofFIG. 8, illustrating the locking slot formed therein;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the cutoff plate of the filler;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 13-13 ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the funnel ring of the filler; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 15-15 ofFIG.l4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, thereis illustrated a filler 10 which is well suited for filling cartons witha whole host of different type materials such as, for example, corn,peas, beans, to mention but a few of them. Of particular importance isthe fact that the filler is .easily adaptable for use with mostpresently available rotary carton filling machines so that the lattercan be easily modified and improved. One such type of machine isdisclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,'9l0,2 I 2 to Charles E. Kerr.

The filler 10, as can be best seen in FIG. 2, includes a main shaft 20which is fixed against rotation and which is adapted to be raised orlowered to increase or decrease the net weight of the material depositedin the cartons, by changing the capacity of the pockets or cups 18 whichform the volumetric filling mechanism of the filler 10, in a mannerfully described below. The manner in which this main shaft 20 is fixedand is raised or lowered can be as disclosed in the above-mentioned US.Pat. No. 2,910,212.

Affixed to the upper end of the main shaft 20 and secured againstrotation thereon is a no carton-no fill arm 110. The upper end of themain shaft 20 is press-fitted into a tapered bore 112 of a hub 111 onthe one end of the no carton-no fill arm 110, and is retained therein bymeans of a threaded bolt 113 and awasher 114.

The no carton-no fill arm is generally T-shaped in cross section, and itis supported on-the main shaft 20 such that the stem 115 of the T ishorizontally disposed and the crossbar 1'16 thereof is verticallydisposed. A double acting hydraulic cylinder 118 which can be a Bimba 09l-DP cylinder is affixed to a flange 119 integrally formed with the stem115 of the arm 110 and to one end of a lever arm 120 so as to lieparallel to the arm 110. The lever arm 120 is pivotally affixed by meansof a pivot bolt 121 to the arm 110, and its opposite end has one end ofa connecting rod 122 pivotally affixed to it. An adjustment rod 123which can be lengthened or shortened is pivotally affixed at one of itsends to the lever arm 120, between the'end thereof to which thehydraulic cylinder 118 is affixed and the pivot bolt 121. The oppositeend of the adjustment rod 123 is fixedly and pivotally secured to oneend of a shorter lever arm 124 which is pivotally affixed at its otherend to the arm 110, by means of a pivot bolt 125. The lever arms 120 and124 are affixed to and positionably adjust a pair of cam bars 58 and 59,respectively, which are positioned below the arm 110 so as to be engagedby a cam roller 57 to open and close cutoff gates 56, in a manner andfor reasons described more fully below. The opposite end of theconnecting rod 122 is pivotally affixed to one end of a lever arm 126which is affixed to and positionably adjusts a product flow gate 127.

A hub 21 of an annular hopper plate 22 is loosely fitted onto the upperend of the main shaft 20, substantially immediately below the hub 111 ofthe no carton-no fill arm 110. The hopper plate 22 has an opening in it,in which is affixed the lower edge of a hopper 11. Means not shown areadapted to convey a product to the hopper 11 so that the lattergenerally is maintained full during carton filling operations, in anywellknown manner. A number of other openings 23 (three as illustrated)can be provided in the hopper plate 22, for viewing the product droppedthrough the hopper 11 onto a top cup and cutoff plate carrier 24.

The top cup and cutoff plate carrier 24, hereinafter generally referredto as the carrier 24, is rotatably supported on the main shaft 20 bymeans of a carrier hub 26 which, in turn, supports a pair of bearings 27and 28. The bearing 28 seats on a shoulder 29 on the carrier hub 26, andthe bearing 27 is retained in spaced relation from the bearing 28 by anannular projecting shoulder 30 formed on a hub portion '38 of thecarrier 24. A snap ring 31 is provided to retain the bearings 27 and 28in proper position with respect to the carrier hub 26 and the hubportion 38 of the carrier 24. The carrier hub 26 further is positionablyretained on the main shaft 20, by means of a thrust washer 32 and a snapring 33.

It may be noted that a pair of resilient O-rings 34 and 35 aresandwiched between the hubs 111 and 21 and between the carrier hub 26and the washer 32, respectively. These O-rings 34 and 35 are provided topermit the hopper plate 22 and the carrier 24 to be vibrated during thecarton filling operation, by

means of a vibrator 12 affixed to the hopper plate 22, adjacent to thehopper 11. The vibrator 12 can be a KOlAC Cleveland Vibrator whichishydraulically operated and which has been found to be entirelysatisfactory for the intended application. With this construction, it isfound that the vibratory motion imparted to the hopper plate 22 and tothe carrier 24 causes more even product flow from the hopper 11 so thatthere is less tendency for the product to stick in the hopper and, moreimportantly, so that the cups 18 comprising the volumetric fillingmechanism of the filling machine fill more evenly or uniformly. As aresult of this latter feature, it is found that the net weight contentsof the filled canons can be more closely controlled, to therebysubstantially reduce the cost of the product used in filling thecartons, by eliminating the need for overfilling to assure that minimumweight requirements are met.

The carrier 24 has an upstanding flange 36 extending about itsperipheral, near its outer edge, which together with the hub portion 38forms an annular pocket 37 into which the product from the hopper 11drops. The upper end of the flange 36 is closely spaced to the outerperipheral edge of the hopper plate 22 so as to effectively seal thepocket 37 to prevent any product from spilling out of it. An annularresilient hopper seal 39 also is secured between the outermost top edgeof the hub portion 38 and the hopper plate 22, for retaining materialwithin the pocket 37.

The carrier 24 also has a number of cup openings 40 l2 as illustrated)formed in it adjacent its outer edge, in radially spaced relation. Ashorter flange 41 extends downwardly from the underside of the carrier24 about each of these cup openings 40, and a tubular top cup 42, whichcomprises a part of a cup 18 of the volumetric filling mechanism, issecured therein. A cutoff gate arm 44 formed of a shaft portion 46having one end of a cam roller support arm 47 integrally affixed to itsupper end is associated with each of the cup openings 40. The shaftportions 46 of the cutoff gate arms 44 are extended through an enlargedbore 48 and an axially aligned shaft aperture 49 formed in the flange 36of the carrier 24, and secured therein by means of a jam nut 50. Aspring 51 encircling the shaft portion 46 is retained within the bore 48by a bushing 52 having an enlarged head portion 53 which seats on thetop edge of the flange 36 and bears against the underside of the camroller support arm 47. The flange 36 has slots 55 formed in it,positionably aligned with each of the cup openings 40, for slidablyreceiving therein cutoff gates 56 which are affixed to the shaftportions 46 of the cutoff gate arms 44 and operated by the latter toclose the cup openings 40 in the manner described more fully below.These cutoff gates 56, as can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, are thin,flat, generally tearshaped plates of suflicient size to completely closethe cup openings 40. A cam roller 57 is rotatably and fixedly secured tothe free end of each of the cam roller support arms 47, and ispositioned to engage one or the other of the above-mentioned cam bars 58and 59 to pivot the cutoff gates 56 to open and close the cup openings40, in the manner described more fully below.

Beneath the carrier 24 is a lower cup support plate 132, which issupported by a cutoff plate 140 described below. The lower cup supportplate 132, as can be best seen in F168. 2 and 81l, is in the form of anannular ring and has openings 133 corresponding in number to and alignedwith the openings 40 formed in the carrier 24 in it. These openings 133have upstanding annular flanges 134 formed about them, in which aresecured a lower cup 135. These lower cups 135 are slightly larger indiameter than the top cup 42, and the latter are slidably telescopicallyreceived therein. A number of flanges 136 (three as illustrated) areintegrally formed with the lower cup support plate 132 and extendradially outwardly a short length beyond the peripheral edge thereof.The flanges 136 each have locking slots 137 formed in them, forreceiving drive bars 61 for lockingly and drivingly coupling the lowercup support plate 132 to the carrier 24 and a funnel ring 60 (describedbelow) so that these elements all rotate together, in a manner describedmore fully below.

The cutoff plate 140, as can be best seen in FIGS. 2, l2 and 13 is inthe form of a circular plate and has a hub 141 with a tapered bore 142in it, for receiving, in a press-fit fashion, the upper end of anelongated housing 70. The housing 70, and hence the cutoff plate 140, isfixed against rotation. The housing further has a bore 71 for receivingthe main shaft 20 therethrough, and its lower end is adapted to beaffixed to a support surface (not shown) on the carton filling machine,to support the carton filler 10. An arcuate opening 143 which defines acarton filling position and which is of a size such that three of theopenings 133 in the lower cup support plate 132 simultaneously overlapit is formed in the cutoff plate 140. This arcuate opening 143 is theonly opening through which the product can drop into the cartons to fillthem, as described more fully below. The cutoff plate 140 further has arecessed annular groove 144 in it, in which the lower cup support plate132 rides.

A funnel ring 60 having a hub portion 66 is rotatably supported, bymeans of bearings 67 and 68, upon the housing 70, below the cutoff plate140. This funnel ring 60 has a flat funnel support surface 72 whichextends parallel to the carrier 24 and is coupled to a hub portion 66 bymeans of tapered spokes 73. The funnel support surface 72 has funnelopenings 74 corresponding in number to and positionally aligned with theopenings 40 in the carrier 24 fonned in it. A number of flanges 65(three as illustrated) which extend radially outwardly from theperipheral edge of the funnel ring 60 and which have locking slots 64formed in them, are integrally formed on the funnel ring. Drive bars 61in the form of lengths of rectangular-shaped bar stock are removablyfixedly secured within the slots 62 in the carrier 24, by means ofthreaded bolts 63, and are slidably received within the locking slots137 of the lower cup support plate 132 and the locking slots 64 of thefunnel ring 60. These drive bars 61, as indicated above, lockingly anddrivingly couple these three elements together so that they all rotatesimultaneously together. ln addition, this arrangement permits the mainshaft 20 to be raised and lowered to change the capacity of the pocketsor cup 18 to thereby change the volumetric capacity of the productdropped in the cartons, without the necessity of removing any fasteningmeans such as threaded bolts or the like or the necessity of adjustablypositioning the no carton-no fill mechanism, as is generally required inthe case of most existing similar filling machines. Accordingly, thevolumetric capacity of the filler 10 can be easily and quickly adjusted,merely by raising and lowering the main shaft 20, and there is no lostdown time of the filling machine, while this adjustment is made.

Beneath each of the openings 74 in the funnel ring 60 is a rigid funnel75 having four walls, two of which are tapered so as to form a large,generally rectangular-shaped open top 76 which completely surrounds anopening 74 and a narrower, generally rectangulanshaped outlet 78. Thefunnel ring 60 also has a funnel slide bar 79 associated with each ofthe openings 74, and the funnel slide bars are fixedly secured withinopenings 80 formed in flanges 81 depending from the upper side of thefunnel ring 60. These funnel slide bars 79 each support a bracket which,in turn, supports a funnel extension 82. These funnel extensions 82 aregenerally shaped like the rigid funnels 75, and each includes a fixedportion 83 and a pivotal portion 84.

A roller 87 is affixed to the rear wall 88 of each of the brackets 85,and these rollers 87 all ride in an annular funnel cam track 89 formedon the end of an arm 86 integrally formed with and extending from thehousing 70. This funnel cam track 89 is curved so that the brackets 85,and hence the funnel extensions 82, are raised and lowered as the funnelring 60 is rotated. The arrangement or curvature is such that the endsof the funnel extensions 82 are lowered into the open tops of thecartons for a preestablished arc of rotation to fill a carton, asdescribed more fully below.

The pivotal portions 84 of the funnel extensions 82 are pivotallyaflixed to the brackets 85 by means of pivot pins 90 and pivot flanges91 affixed to the rear walls 92 thereof. A roller 93 also is affixed tothe rear walls 92, and these rollers are adapted to ride on a cam rail94 affixed by means of a thread bolt 95 to the funnel slide bars 79. Thecam rails 94 each have an angularly disposed ca m surface 96 on themwhich is flanked by two flat cam surfaces 97 and 98. In FIG. 2, thebracket 85, and hence the funnel extension 82, are in their loweredpositions, and it can be seen that the roller 93 is on the flat camsurface 98 and the mouth of the funnel extension is opened so that theedges thereof just engage but do not bow the sidewalls of the carton100. As the bracket 85 is raised, by the roller 87 rolling in the camtruck 89, the roller 93 on the pivotal portion 84 of the funnelextension 82 rolls down the angularly disposed cam surface 96 and ontothe flat cam surface 97. When on this latter cam surface, the end of thepivotal portion is pivoted so as to substantially close the mouth of thefunnel extension 82, to permit the ends or the mouth thereof to be moreeasily lowered into a carton.

The funnel slide bars 79 each have an outwardly projecting flange 102 oneach of the opposite sides of the main body portion 103 thereof. Theseflanges 102 function to separate and to guide rollers 104 affixed to thebrackets 85, to align and to guide the funnel extensions 82 as they areraised and lowered. A number (three in the illustrated example) of thefunnel slide bars 79 are longer in length than the others, and theselonger funnel slide bars are adapted to be driven, to rotatably drivethe funnel ring 60 in synchronism with the feed speed of the fillingmachine to which the filler machine is affixed. 1n the illustratedembodiment, these funnel slide bars 79 are adapted to be engaged by oneof the brackets 145 which are affixed on top of the chain sprocket for aconveyor chain 146 which is adapted to retain the cartons to be filledand to deliver them to the filler machine 10. This apparatus and methodfor feeding or conveying cartons is well known in the art and forms nopart of the present invention. With this drive arrangement, it can beseen that the possibility of the filler machine 10 becomingunsynchronized with the cartons being fed to it for filling is virtuallyimpossible. The carrier 24 and the lower cup support plate 132 are, inturn, rotated by the funnel ring 60 as the latter is rotated, since theyall are coupled to one another by the drive bars 61.

The vibrator 12 and the hydraulic cylinder 118 controlling the operationof the no carton-no fill arm 110 are operated by means of a valvemechanism 17. This valve mechanism '17 is arranged to continuouslyoperate the vibrator 12 when the filling machine to which the fillermachine 10 is affixed is being operated, so that the hopper plate 22,the hopper l1 and the carrier 24 are constantly vibrated. The hydrauliccylinder 118 is operated by the valve mechanism 17, in response to theoperation of a no carton detecting mechanism such as the microswitch150. This microswitch 150 is placed at a predetermined location, in thepath of the cartons being conveyed to the filler 10 in a fashion suchthat the leaf switch 151 thereof is engaged and operated by the cartons,in the following manner. As long as the leaf switch 151 is engaged andoperated by a carton, the microswitch 150 operates the valve mechanism17 which, in turn, operates the hydraulic cylinder 118 so that the cambars 58 and 59 are pivotally positioned to cause the cam roller 57 to beengaged by the cam bar'59. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cam bars 58 and59 have been pivoted in the described manner and it can be seen that thecutoff gate 56 is already in its open position so that its associatedcam roller 57 freely passes between the two cam bars 58 and 59. The nextcutoff gate 56' however, is in its closed position and its associatedcam roller 57' will engage the cam surface of the -eum bar 59 as thecarrier 24 is rotated in a clockwise If there is an absence of a cartonor cartons in the stream of cartons being fed to the filler 10, themicroswitch 150 is operated to cause the valve mechanism 17 to, in turn,operate the hydraulic cylinder 118 of the no carton-no fill arm to pivotthe cam bars 58 and 59 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. 1n thefigure, it can be seen that the cutoff gate 56 is in its open positionand, as the carrier 24 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, itsassociated cam roller 57 will engage the cam surface of the cam bar 58.As the cam roller 57 moves along this cam surface, the cam rollersupport arm 47 is caused to pivot in a counterclockwise direction whichaction, in turn, causes the cutoff gate 56 to swing to its closedposition. This can be seen more clearly by referring to the cam roller57' which, as illustrated, is about to pass free of the cam bar 58 sothat it already has caused its associated cam lever support arm 47 to bepivoted to close thecutoff gate 56.

The microswitch is positioned so that it is triggered by a missingcarton to operate the no carton-no fill arm 110, in the manner describedabove, to close only the cutoff gate 56 of 'the cup 18 which nonnallywould contain the product to be dropped into that missing carton whenthe latter arrives at the carton fill position. Since the cutoff gate 56is closed as the cup 18 associated with the missing carton passesbeneath the hopper 11, no product is permitted to drop into it. In mostpresently available similar types of filler machines, the cup isfilled'with the product and the no carton-'rio fill mechanism isoperated by a missing carton to prevent the product from being spilledout of the cup. This arrangement is generally found to beunsatisfactory, particularly when the cartons are being filled withproducts such as frozen corn or peas, since this type of product tendsto set up or freeze to the sidewalls of the cups during the time that itis retained within the cup and dropped into a canon, usually during thenext revolution of the cup carrier. lf some of the product sticks to thesidewalls of the cups, it is obvious that the carton will not have thecorrect net weight of product deposited in it. Accordingly, this problemis virtually eliminated with the arrangement'of the present invention.The next carton following the missing carton immediately triggers themicroswitch 150 to operate the no carton-no fill arm 110 to prevent thecutoff gate 56 of the cup 18 synchronized with that carton from beingclosed.

lt may also be noted that the connecting rod 122 also is operated by thelever arm 120. The operation is such that it operates the lever arm 126to cause it to pivot to, in turn, pivot the product flow gate 127 tosubstantially cut off the flow of product from the hopper 11, each timethe no carton-no fill arm 110 is operated by a missing carton. Theproduct flow gate 127 functions to prevent an overfill of product toflow into the carrier 24, to thereby prevent the latter from beingclogged with too much product. Wiper brushes 155, three as illustrated,are afiixed to the underside of the hopper plate 22 to sweep the productspilling from the hopper 11 into the carrier 24 to the outer peripheryof the latter and into the cups 18. These wiper brushes also function tosweep off any overfill in a cup 18, to assure that all cups 18 arefilled flush to their tops.

Now that the construction of the filler 10 has been described, itsoperation can be described as follows. As indicated above, the productto be deposited in the' cartons 100 is conveyed and spilled into thehopper 11, in any suitable fashion. The filling machine to which thefiller 10 is affixed is energized andthe cartons 100 normally aresupplied to it in a knock-down fashion, the same being erected and thelower ends thereof closed as they are conveyed along the length of thefilling machine, by a mechanism well known and not forming part of thepresent invention, to the filler 10.1n the illustrated example, thesecartons are conveyed to the filler 10, by means of the chain belt 146.The brackets 145 on the chain sprocket engage the longer ones of thefunnel slide bars 79 to thereby rotate the funnel ring 60, and hence thecarrier'24 and the lower cup support plate 132, which are coupled to thefunnel ring 60 by means of the drive bars 61. As indicated above, thehousing 70 supporting the cam track 89 and thecutoff plate 140 supportedby it both are fixed against rotation. The hopper plate 22 and the nocarton-no fill arm 110 affixed to and supported by the main shaft 20likewise are fixed against rotation.

The product spilled into the hopper 11 drops through it into the pocket37 in the carrier 24, and as the latter rotates, the product in thepocket 37 is swept by the wiper brushes 155 towards the outer peripheryof the carrier 24 and into the cups 18, through the openings 40 and thecarrier 24. The operation of the chain belt 146 conveying the cartons100 to the filler l and the operation of the filler are synchronized sothat fun nel extensions 82 start to drop into the open top of the canons100, just prior to the time that the cups 18 pass over the carton fillposition defined by the arcuate slot 143 formed in the cutoff plate 140.

The funnel extension 82 are raised and lowered by means of the roller 87affixed to the bracket 35 and retained within the cam track 89. As thefunnel extension 82 is lowered, its lower end is closed so that the endcan be more easily inserted into the open top of the carton. As theroller 93 affixed to the rear wall 92 of the pivotal position 84 of thefunnel extension 82 is rolled down the cam rail 94, by the movement ofthe bracket 85 due to the roller 87 following the path of the cam track89, the pivotal portion 84 is pivotally moved to open the end of thefunnel extension 82, to permit the product to drop through it into thecarton 100. The funnel extension 82 will be at its lowermost point atthe time that its associated cup 18 starts to pass over the arcuateopening 143 in the cutoff plate 140. At this time, the product ispermitted to spill out of the cup 18 and through the funnel 75 and thefunnel extension 82 in the carton 100. It may be noted that the funnel75 and the funnel extension 82 are of a substantial length so that theproduct is caused to fall a considerable distance from the cup 18 intothe carton 100. lt is found that by causing the product to drop asubstantial height, as in the illustrated case, the product is morecompactly packed within the carton 100 and that the need for additionalpacking mechanisms for packing the product so that the top flaps of thecartons can thereafter be easily closed is eliminated. Also, this longdrop eliminates the need to bow the sidewalls of the cartons to assurethat all of the product in the cups can be retained within the carton,as has been done in the past, is eliminated. This type of operation,that is, bowing of the sidewalls of the cartons, is generally objectedto since the cartons are sometimes damaged by this operation and,furthermore, additional equipment usually is necessary to flatten thecartons after they are filled so that the sides thereof do not appear tobulge. The funnel extensions 82 preferably remain within the canons 100during the time that the cups 18 are over the arcuate opening 143 formedin the cutoff plate 140. The length of the arcuate opening 143 issufficient to assure that all of the product within the cups 18 arespilled therefrom into the cartons. As indicated above, the hopper plate22 has a vibrator l2 affixed to it which constantly vibrates the hopperplate 22, the hopper 11 and the carrier 24 to assure a continuous flowof product through the hopper l1 and, more importantly, to assure thateach of the cups 18 comprising the volumetric measuring mechanism of thefiller 10 are more uniformly filled as they pass beneath the hopper 11.As indicated above, this feature permits the net weight contents of thecartons to be controlled within closer limits than heretofore generallypossible. The vibratory motion of the carrier 24, of course, alsofunctions to prevent the product from sticking to the sidewalls of thetop cups 42 forming a part of the cups 18 so that all of the productwithin the cups 18 drops out of it during virtually every operation.This factor therefore likewise contributes to the ability to maintainthe net weight contents of the cartons within closer limits.

If during the operation of the filling machine, a carton is missing inthe line of continuous cartons being fed to the filler 10, themicroswitch 150 is triggered to operate the valve mechanism 17 to, inturn, operate the hydraulic cylinder 118 of the no carton-no fill arm110. The hydraulic cylinder 118, in operating, operates the lever arm120 to pivot the cam bars 58 and 59 to the position illustrated in FIG.4. In this position, the cam roller 57 afiixed to the cam roller supportarm 47 of the cutoff gate 56 controlling the flow of product into thecup 18 which would contain the product to be deposited in the canonwhich is missing in the line of cartons being conveyed to the filler 10engages the cam bar 58. This action causes the cam roller support arm 47to pivot, in the manner described above, to close the cutoff gate 56 sothat the cup 18 does not fill with the product as it passes beneath thehopper 11. Also, at the same time that the cutoff gate 56 is beingclosed, the produced flow gate 127 is pivoted to cut off the flow ofproduct from the hopper 11. The carton following the missing cartonagain trips the microswitch 150 so that the latter operates the valvemechanism 1.7 to, in turn, operate the hydraulic cylinder 118 to againposition the cam bars 58 and 59, in the positions illustrated in FIG. 3.The cutoff gate 56 which was closed by the cam bar 58 remains closedduring one revolution of the carrier 24 and is subsequently again openedby the cam bar 59, in the manner described above, if at this time thereis a carton in the line of cartons synchronized with its movement. Sincethe product is prevented from filling a cup 18 if there is no cartoninto which this product can be spilled when that cup reaches the arcuateopening 143 in the cutoff plate 140, the product is prevented fromsetting up or freezing in this pocket during the next revolution beforeit can be spilled from it. Therefore, the problem of these cups becomingclogged as a result of the product freezing to the sidewalls thereof andthe problem of having less than the necessary net weight of productbeing spilled into a carton as a result of some of the product stickingwithin the cups is substantially, if not completely eliminated.

If it is desired to change the capacity of the volumetric measuringmechanism of the filler 10, that is, the capacity of the cups 18, thiscan be easily and quickly accomplished merely by raising or lowering themain shaft 20. In doing so, the carrier 24, the hopper plate 22 and theno carton-no fill arm all are simultaneously raised or lowered withrespect to the funnel ring 60, the cutoff plate 140 and the lower cupsupport plate 132. The driving connection between the funnel ring 60,the lower cup support plate 132 and the carrier 24 is maintained sincethe drive bars 61 merely slide upwardly or downwardly within the lockingslots formed in these members. The top cups 42 affixed to the carrier 24are slidably and telescopically retained within the lower cups 135affixed to the lower cup support plate 132, hence it can be seen thatthe volume of the cups 18 is changed as the carrier 24 is raised orlowered. With this arrangement, it can be seen that the volume orcapacity of the cups 18 can be easily and quickly changed, without thenecessity of making any further adjustments to the filler 10.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

lt is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for filling cartons with a product comprising at least onecup; a rotatable support therefor; a cutoff gate for controlling fillingof said cup; a cutoff gate control member carried by said support; cammeans for engaging said cutoff gate control member to open and closesaid cutoff gate to fill said cup with said product in accordance withthe presence and absence of a carton, respectively; and a cutoff platefor retaining said product within said cup, said cutoff plate having anopening therein for pennitting said product to drop from said cup.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a shaft; said rotatablesupport for said cup being rotatably affixed to said shaft; meanssupporting said cam means fixedly secured to said shaft and supportingsaid cam means atop said support for said cup in a position to engagesaid cutoff gate control member; said cam means comprising a first camoperable to open said cutoff gate and a second cam operable to closesaid cutoff gate; means coupled to said first and second cams to operatethem simultaneously responsive to the presence and absence of a canon toposition said first and second cams to cause one of them to be engagedby said cutoff gate control member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a hopper plate supportinga hopper which is adapted to'receive a supply of said product supportedatop said rotatable support for said cup; the product within said hopperbeing delivered atop said rotatable support for said cup for fillingsaid cup in accordance with the operated position of said cutoff gate;and means for imparting a vibratory motion to said support for said cupand said hopper plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said support for said cup and saidhopper plate are coupled to one another and wherein said means forimparting a vibratory motion to said support for said cup and saidhopper plate comprises a vibrator affixed to said hopper plate.

5. The apparatus of claim I, further including means for raising andlowering said support for said cup with respect to said cutofi plate; alower cup support plate supported by said cutoff plate having at leastone cup which is slidably and telescopically engaged with saidfirst-mentioned cup; said first mentioned cup and said cup affixed tosaid lower cup support plate comprising a volumetric filling mechanism,the volume of which can be changed by raising and lowering said supportfor said cup with respect to said cutoff plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a shaft; said rotatablesupport for said cup being rotatably affixed to said shaft; a hopperplate supporting a hopper which is adapted to receive a supply of saidproduct fixedly secured to said shaft so as to support said hopper atopsaid rotatable support for said cup,- the product within said hopperbeing delivered atop said rotatable support for said cup; meanssupporting said cam means fixedly secured to said shaft and supportingsaid cam means atop said support for said cup in a position to engagesaid cutoff gate control member; a lower cup support plate supported bysaid cutoff plate having at least one cup which is slidably andtelescopically engaged with said first-mentioned cup; saidfirst-mentioned cup and said cupaffixed to said lower cup support platecomprising a volumetric filling mechanism; and "means for raising andlowering-said shaft whereby said support for said 'cup, said hopperplate and said means supporting said cam means all are simultaneouslyraised and lowered with respect to said cutoff plate and the capacity ofsaid volumetric filling mechanismis accordingly changed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a lower cup support plateslidably supported atop said cutoff plate, said lower cup support platehaving at least one lower cup which is telescopically arranged with saidcup supported by said rotatable. support, said shaft being verticallyadjustable to raise and below said cutoff plate and in alignment withsaid cup so that the product dropped from said cup through said openingin said cutoff plate drops into said rigid funnel and a funnel extensionassociated with each rigid funnel supported in a position such thatproduct dfg d into said rigid funnel passes through the latter into saisynchronism with the movement of said carton to lower said funnelextension into a carton to convey said product into said carton to fillit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a funnel slide barassociated with each rigid funnel, said funnel slide bars beingsupported by said funnel support ring and each supporting one of saidfunnel extensions, said means for raising and lowering-said funnelextension comprises a cam track supported by said funnel support ringand cam means affixed to each of said funnel extensions and engaged withsaid cam track, said cam track being formed such that said funnelextensions are raisedand lowered by said cam means riding on it as saidfunnel extensions are rotated. t

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said funnel extensions eachcomprise a fixed funnel portion and a pivotal funnel portion whichnormally is pivoted to substantially close the end of said funnelextension, means affixed to said pivotal funnel portions operated insynchronism with the lowering of said funnel'extensions to pivotallyopen said pivotal funnel portions, whereby the ends of said funnelextensions are more easily lowered intoacarton.

unnel extension, and means for raising and lowering said funnelextensions operated in

1. Apparatus for filling cartons with a product comprising at least onecup; a rotatable support therefor; a cutoff gate for controlling fillingof said cup; a cutoff gate control member carried by said support; cammeans for engaging said cutoff gate control member to open and closesaid cutoff gate to fill said cup with said product in accordance withthe presence and absence of a carton, respectively; and a cutoff platefor retaining said product within said cup, said cutoff plate having anopening therein for permitting said product to drop from said cup. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, further including a shaft; said rotatablesupport for said cup being rotatably affixed to said shaft; meanssupporting said cam means fixedly secured to said shaft and supportingsaid cam means atop said support for said cup in a position to engagesaid cutoff gate control member; said cam means comprising a first camoperable to open said cutoff gate and a second cam operable to closesaid cutoff gate; means coupled to said first and second cams to operatethem simultaneously responsive to the presence and absence of a cartonto position said first and second cams to cause one of them to beengaged by said cutoff gate control member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,further including a hopper plate supporting a hopper which is adapted toreceive a supply of said product supported atop said rotatable supportfor said cup; the product within said hopper being delivered atop saidrotatable support for said cup for filling said cup in accordance withthe operated position of said cutoff gate; and means for imparting avibratory motion to said support for said cup and said hopper plate. 4.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said support for said cup and saidhopper plate are coupled to one another and wherein said means forimparting a vibratory motion to said support for said cup and saidhopper plate comprises a vibrator affixed to said hopper plate.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further including means for raising and loweringsaid support for said cup with respect to said cutoff plate; a lower cupsupport plate supported by said cutoff plate having at least one cupwhich is slidably and telescopically engaged with said first-mentionedcup; said first-mentioned cup and said cup affixed to said lower cupsupport plate comprising a volumetric filling mechanism, the volume ofwhich can be changed by raising and lowering said support for said cupwith respect to said cutoff plate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, furtherincluding a shaft; said rotatable support for said cup being rotatablyaffixed to said shaft; a hopper plate supporting a hopper which isadapted to receive a supply of said product fixedly secured to saidshaft so as to support said hopper atop said rotatable support for saidcup, the product within said hopper being delivered atop said rotatablesupport for said cup; means supporting said cam means fixedly secured tosaid shaft and supporting said cam means atop said support for said cupin a position to engage said cutoff gate control member; a lower cupsupport plate supported by said cutoff plate having at least one cupwhich is slidably and telescopically engaged with said first-mentionedcup; said first-mentioned cup and said cup affixed to said lower cupsupport plate comprising a volumetric filling mechanism; and means forraising and lowering said shaft whereby said support for said cup, saidhopper plate and said means supporting said cam means all aresimultaneously raised and lowered with respect to said cutoff plate andthe capacity of said volumetric filling mechanism is accordinglychanged.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a lower cupsupport plate slidably supported atop said cutoff plate, said lower cupsupport plate having at least one lower cup which is telescopicallyarranged with said cup supported by said rotatable support, said shaftbeing vertically adjustable to raise and lower it to therebytelescopically adjust said cup with respect to said lower cup to changethe capacity of the product disposable within said cup.
 8. The apparatusof claim 7, further including a funnel assembly comprising a funnelsupport ring releasably and drivingly coupled to said rotatable supportfor said cup, at least one rigid funnel supported by said funnel supportring below said cutoff plate and in alignment with said cup so that theproduct dropped from said cup through said opening in said cutoff platedrops into said rigid funnel and a funnel extension associated with eachrigid funnel supported in a position such that product dropped into saidrigid funnel passes through the latter into said funnel extension, andmeans for raising and lowering said funnel extensions operated insynchronism with the movement of said carton to lower said funnelextension into a carton to convey said product into said carton to fillit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a funnel slide barassociated with each rigid funnel, said funnel slide bars beingsupported by said funnel support ring and each supporting one of saidfunnel extensions, said means for raising and lowering said funnelextension comprises a cam Track supported by said funnel support ringand cam means affixed to each of said funnel extensions and engaged withsaid cam track, said cam track being formed such that said funnelextensions are raised and lowered by said cam means riding on it as saidfunnel extensions are rotated.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinsaid funnel extensions each comprise a fixed funnel portion and apivotal funnel portion which normally is pivoted to substantially closethe end of said funnel extension, means affixed to said pivotal funnelportions operated in synchronism with the lowering of said funnelextensions to pivotally open said pivotal funnel portions, whereby theends of said funnel extensions are more easily lowered into a carton.